Pennsylvania National Guard Soldier Killed in Action |
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By: Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Posted: 2008-05-21 23:18:03 |
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A Pennsylvania Army National Guard soldier was killed in action early Tuesday morning near the town of Ghazni, Afghanistan.
1st Lt. Jeffrey F. Deprimo, 35, Pittston, of Delta Company, 1-109th Infantry, West Pittston, died when an improvised explosive device struck his Humvee. He was on a mission to assess medical facility construction for the Afghan people when the attack occurred. A Navy lieutenant and an interpreter serving with the Provincial Reconstruction Team were also killed in the attack. The driver and gunner for the vehicle, both Pennsylvania National Guard soldiers, were injured and evacuated to Bagram Air Base, Afghanistan. Deprimo, a reconditioning technician at Barber Ford, Exeter, was serving as the security force platoon leader for a reconstruction team near Ghazni and had been commander of the lead convoy vehicle during the attack. He was a 1996 honors graduate from Marywood University, Scranton, with a bachelor's degree in music. "Jeff was a tremendously energetic officer and leader who always reached for excellence and cared deeply about his soldiers," said Maj. Gen. Jessica L. Wright, state adjutant general. "Our thoughts and prayers are with his family and friends as our entire Pennsylvania National Guard family and the commonwealth mourn his loss." More than 700 Pennsylvania National Guard soldiers are currently in Afghanistan on a one-year deployment for the 3-103rd Armor, Lewisburg. The unit is scheduled to return in December. "First Lt. Deprimo was an extremely professional military officer who was respected by his leaders, peers and subordinates," said Cmdr. Jason B. Burke, commander of the PRT, Ghazni. "He had great attention to detail in his mission planning and was dedicated to ensuring the security of his personnel. He will be sorely missed." Thirty-one Pennsylvania National Guard soldiers have been killed in Iraq and Afghanistan. Deprimo is the fourth Pennsylvania National Guard soldier fatally injured in Afghanistan and its third officer to be killed in action during the Global War on Terror. Deprimo will be posthumously awarded a Purple Heart and Combat Action Badge. EDITOR'S NOTE: A photo of 1st Lt. Jeffrey Deprimo can be found on the Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Web site, http://www.dmva.state.pa.us. CONTACT: 1st Lt. Jay Ostrich 717-861-2333 (office 717-413-5020 (cell) |
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